History
1907 - 1912
The YWCA of Edmonton began in 1907 and was incorporated by a special act of the provincial legislature. Since its inception over ninety years ago, the YWCA of Edmonton has made significant contributions to the social, economic, educational, and health dimensions of the province of Alberta. The programs and services offered by the organization have, over a century, continually adapted to meet the changing needs of the larger community.
1912 - 1917
During its first few decades, in a frontier city unprepared for an influx of single women, the organization assisted thousands of rural and immigrant women who came to Edmonton to further their education or seek employment. In addition to providing safe and economical housing for "unattached" women, the YWCA Travelers Aid workers, for more than sixty years, met every scheduled train and bus to offer support and assistance to women visiting or relocating to the city. With the rapidly expanding population of the west came homelessness, prostitution and separated families. The YWCA provided food, shelter, employment information, and training during the first decade of service.
1917 - 1927
During the era from 1917 - 1926, women entered the workforce in great numbers and won the right to vote in federal and provincial elections. A post-war emphasis on athleticism and the outdoors led to the YWCA opening its first swimming pool and gymnasium and organizing a women's camping program at Seba Beach starting in 1916.
1927 - 1937
In the third decade of service, during the Great Depression, thousands of people passed through Alberta and Edmonton as they searched for work. The YWCA worked to provide food and accommodation, and training for unemployed women and girls.
1937 - 1947
Formerly a community with an agriculture-based economy, the city became a strategic centre for northern military operations, including the Alaska Highway. YWCA volunteers and staff met the needs of service men's wives, women in the military, and other women in the workforce by providing daycare services, social clubs, and a housing registry.
1947 - 1967
The YWCA provided the displaced persons from Europe with free accommodation, English classes, as well as recreational and social activities. The YWCA of Edmonton continued to respond to changing needs by providing day camps and daycare for children as well as Mothers Day Out programs which provided relief care to stay-at-home mothers.
1967 - 1977
During the late sixties and well into the seventies, the seventh decade of service for the YWCA of Edmonton, thousands of young people traveled across the country in large numbers, creating the "transient youth" era in the life of the YWCA. The residence stretched to accommodate the increased need and several cooperative youth hostels were developed. In 1976, the YWCA opened the building on 100 Avenue which provided much-needed sport and recreational facilities, daycare, and affordable housing for women.
1977 - 1987
To celebrate its 75th Anniversary, the YWCA created the "Tribute to Women" awards to honor the accomplishments of Edmonton women. With increasing population, also came the increased need for support and counseling services which continue today. As the environmental movement grew, the YWCA developed a year round outdoor centre on Lake Wabamun to provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and environmental education. In addition, with the growing awareness of the needs of persons with disabilities, the YWCA began to offer leisure and recreational opportunities for adults with disabilities as well as relief rare for families caring for a child with a disability.
1987 - 1997
In its ninth decade of service, the YWCA of Edmonton continued to provide core services to Alberta women and their families; services included childcare, affordable housing, health and recreation, services for persons with disabilities, counseling services, and outdoor environmental education. The Y-Knit program began in 1988 with people from around the province donating knitted items. During the latter part of this period, a recession, combined with government cutbacks and community restructuring, forced the YWCA to restructure its operations and refocus on key programs and services.
1997 - Present
At the present time, entering its tenth decade of service, the YWCA of Edmonton offers a variety of counseling programs for bereavement and domestic violence, relief services for families caring for an individual with a disability, and a year round Centre on Lake Wabamun. The YWCA is also currently involved in a number of partnerships in Alberta including an international outdoor exchange in the camping industry, the Protection and Restraining Order Project, and the Family Violence Prevention Centre. As the staff and volunteers of the YWCA have done for ninety years, the legacy of service and significant contributions to society continue into the next millennium.
